Gas powered revolver



April 18, 1961 R. MERz 2,980,096

GAS POWERED REVOLVER RUDOLF MERZ April 18, 1961 R. MERZ GAS POWEREDREVOLVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1959 INVENTOR.

RUDOLF MERZ United States Patent GAS POWERED REVOLVER Filed Jan. 12,1959, Ser. No. 786,332

6 Claims. (Cl. 124-11) The present invention relates to gas poweredguns, and

more particularly to a gas powered pistol.

Although there are several different types of gas powered pistols knowntoday; heretofore no gas powered pistol of the revolver type has beendevised.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a gas powered pistolof a revolver type.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas powered revolverhaving a hammer, the cooking of which rotates the cylinder apredetermined distance, to place a new chamber in alignment with thebarrel of the gun.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas powered revolverwhich when tired releases gas under pressure into the chamber that isaligned with the barrel of the gun.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas powered revolverwherein the hammer is manually operable to a cocked position and to asafety position, which safety position prevents the hammer frominadvertently releasing gas under pressure to tire the revolver.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gas poweredrevolver having a magazine for feeding projectiles to the chambers ofthe revolver cylinder after each chamber hasbeen red. v

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gas poweredrevolver, which is simple in its operation, inexpensive to manufacture,and durable in its construction.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from thespecification, the drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation 0f a revolver constructed according to oneembodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the revolver shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the revolver taken at line 3 3of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows with the hammershown in its safety position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the underside of the magazine taken atline 4 4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, butshowing the slide in open position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the revolver;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the revolver taken on line 6 6of Fig. Slooking in the direction of the arrows and showing the cylinderin front elevation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the revolver taken at line 7 7 of Fig. 5looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the rotatable cylinder showing themechanism for rotating the cylinder step by step with the index arm inthe position it assumes when the hammer is cocked; and

Fig.-9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cylinder taken at line 9 9of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and also showingthe trigger and hammer in section.

2,980,096 Patented Apr. 1s, 1951 volver herein can be held in andoperated with one hand.

It has a six chambered cylinder, each chamber of which is adapted tocontain a spherical projectile. The pistol has a manually operablehammer, which when cocked rotates the cylinder a predetermined distanceto align a new chamber with the barrel of the gun. The frame of therevolver is adapted to hold a replaceable cartridge containing highpressure gas. When the hammer is released by the operation of a triggera certain amount of this gas is released to propel a projectile fromthat chamber which is aligned with the barrel. Upon the cocking of thehammer, the chamber from which a projectile was ired is reloaded from amagazine holding a plurality of projectiles.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the revolver comprises a frame10 having a projecting barrel portion 12 and a pistol grip handleportion 14. The central portion of the frame 10 is provided with arotatably mounted cylinder 16 and a hammer 18. The hammer is operable tobe manually pivoted to a cocked position against the force of a spring19,`and it is released to iire the revolver by operating a conventionaltrigger 20. The barrel portion 12 of the revolver is preferably providedwith an elongated hollow cylindrical liner 21 through which aprojectile, such as 23, is adapted to be propelled; The breech end ofthe barrel 12 opens onto -a flat surface 24 of the frame 10 (see Fig.7), and the muzzle end of the barrel portion 12 maybe provided with anenlarged opening v25 which corresponds to the size of a conventional 45caliber revolver, for example. The cylinder 16, which has six chambers22, is rotatably mounted on an axle assembly that is comprised of acylindrical block 26 and a cylindrical block 27, which are coaxiallyattached by threads 28. I

A replaceable gas cartridge 35 is adapted to be positioned beneath thebarrel 12 so that its narrow neck portion 36 seals a central opening 37(see Fig. 6) formed in the block 26. A threaded bolt 41, which slidablytits through openings of spaced lugs 42, is adjustably threaded by a nut44 against the gas cartridge 35 to clamp it securely in position betweenthe bolt 42 and the face of the opening 37. An O-ring 46 prevents theescape of gas between the Walls of the opening 37 and the neck portion36. A chamber 48 formed in the blocks 26 and 27 communicates through aduct 50 with the opening 37 in the block 26 and with a radial port 51formed in the block 27. A poppet valve 52 is mounted in the chamber 48to prevent the escape of gas 4from the chamber 48 into the radial port51. The valve is urged closed against a valve seat formed on the block27 by a coil spring 54. The valve has a valve stem 55 which extendsaxially through the block 27 and into the duct 50. The spring 54surrounds the valve stem 55 and is interposed between the block 26 andthe valve 52. The stem 55 also has a piercing projection 49whichinitially pierces the cartridge 35 to release gas therefrom whenthe valve stem 55 is struck by the hammer 18.

The rear ends of the chambers 22 of the cylinders 16 are closed by aplate 57 which is welded or brazed or otherwise secured to the cylinder.'Ihe plate 57 is formed with radially-extending ducts 60v which connectthe several chambers 22 successively with the radial duct 51 when eachchamber is. aligned withthe barrel 12 (see Fig. 2). An Q-ring 63 ismounted in the member 27 to prevent the escape of gas between the plate57 and the member 27. The forward end of each of the chambers 22 has anenlarged portion S6 which is adapted to hold a projectile, such as aball, 23. A spring58 (see Fig. 3) which is mounted in the centralportion of the frame 10 has a bent arm 59 which holds each projectile inits chamber 22 when that vchamber is aligned with the barrellZ.

The frame 10 has a tubular magazine 61 (Figs. l and for holding a columnvof projectiles 23. The magazine is formed alongside and below thebarrel 12 in such a position that it registers with each chamber 22after the chamber has been iired. The magazine 61 is provided with aslidable follower l62 havingahandle portion 64 for moving the membertoward its forward or muzzle end to uncover Aa peripheral opening 66through which the individual projectiles 23 are inserted in themagazine. A spring 63 urges the follower 62 .toward the open end of themagazine 61 to close the opening 66 and to urge the iirst of Va columnof projectiles, such as are shown in Fig. 5, into the enlarged portion56 of that particular chamber l22 which is aligned with the magazine. Asthe depth of the enlarged portion 56 of the chamber 22 Ais equal to orslightly less than the diameter of the projectile 23, and the diameterof the unenlarged portion of each chamber 22 is smaller than thediameter of a projectile, only one projectile 23 can enter each chamberat a time. The projectiles which are in the chambers 22, which are notaligned with the magazine 61 or the barrel 12 are held therein by theopposing face 24 of the frame 19.

The hammer 18, which is operable to assume three distinct positions, acocked position, a safety position, and a red position, is pivotallymounted on the frame at 71 and is urged to its fired position againstthe valve stem 55 by the spring 19. Pivotally attached to the hammer 13by a pin 76, is an index arm Si) (Figs. 3, 8 and 9) having a bent linger.81 which is urged against the plate 57 by a coil spring 83. This springsurrounds the pivot pin 76 and engages at one end with the arm 8) and atits other end with the hammer 18. When the hammer 18 is pivoted to itscocked position, the index arm Si) pushes upward against the edge of oneof a plurality of angularly spaced indentations 85 formed in the rearface of the plate 57 to rotate the cylinder 16 in a clockwise directionas shown in Fig. 8, to place a ychamber 22 in communication with thebarrel 12 and the radial port 51; thereby moving the chamber 22, whichwas previously aligned with the barrel 12, into registry with themagazine 61. A spring loaded ball detent 87 (see Fig. 3) in the frame 10is urged into oneof the recesses 88 (see Figs. 8 and 9) in the plate 57when its corresponding chamber 22 is in proper alignment with the barrel12, thereby holding that chamber in alignment with the barrel. Thehammer 1S is held in its cocked position by a projection 85 of thetrigger 20 (see Fig. 3) which engages a shoulder 89 on the hammer. Thetrigger 20, which is pivotally mounted at 91, is urged in acounterclockwise direction as shown Vin Fig. 3 by a spring 92 that ismounted in a socket in the frame. When the trigger 20 is pulled, thehammer 18 snaps forward to hit the stem 55 Ato force thevalve 52 fromits seat 53, thereby releasing the compressed gas from the chamber 48through the lradial port S1, and into that chamber 22 which communicateswith the port 51 to propel the projectile 23 through the barrel 12. Itshould be notedithat the force ot the coil spring 54 and the pressure ofthe gas in the chamber 4S is suilcient'to close the valve 52 immediatelyafter tiring and to keep it closed when the hammer 18 is resting in itstired position against the stem S5. To place the hammer 18 in its safetyposition, it is manually rocked until the trigger projection 86 enters arecess 95 of the hammer. In this safety position, as shown in Fig. 3,the trigger cannot be inadvertently pulled, and the hammer 1S is heldout of contact with the stem S5, so that the gas cannot be inadvertentlyreleased when the revolver is in its holster, for example.

In operation, the magazine slide 62 is moved forward by its handle 64 touncover the opening 56 of the tube 61 to insert a plurality ofprojectiles 23 therein. The follower 62 is then released, land the forceof the spring 68 urges the iirst of the column of projectiles 23 fromthe magazine into that chamber 22 which is aligned with the magazine.The cylinder 16 is then manually ro tated in a counterclockwisedirection as shown in Fig. 6 thereby successively placing each of thechambers 22 in alignment with the magazine to completely load all sixchambers of the cylinder. After all the chambers 2.2 have been loaded,more projectiles may' be placed in the magazine 61 in the mannerpreviously mentioned. In the particular embodiment herein the magazineis adapted to contain twelve projectiles so that there are eighteenprojectiles in the pistol when it is fully loaded. The hammer 18 is thenpulled backward to its cocked position as shown in Fig. 9 which forcesthe index arm Si) upward so that its tinger 81, which engages the edgeof an indentation 8S, rotates the cylinder 16 clockwise as shown in Fig8. In this movement, the springloaded ball 87 is forced .out of onerecess 88, and snaps into the adjacent recess 88, when va chamber 22 Aisvaligned with the barrel, thereby holding the cylinder against rotation.A lip 98 on the arm S0 engages vin one of the other indentations toprevent the cylinder 16 from being rotated in the Wrong direction whichis the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. The trigger isthen pulled, releasing the hammer 18 to open the valve 52 momentarily,thereby tiring the projectile through the barrel from the chamber .22which is registering with the barrel. When the hammer is again pulledbackward to its cocked position, the index arm again rotates thecylinder 16 one step thereby bringing a new projectile into alignmentwith the barrel and placing the empty chamber 22, which was previouslyaligned with the barlrel, in registry with the magazine 61. Anotherprojectile is then urged into the empty chamber 22 in the mannerheretofore described; and the pistol is again ready for tiring. When`the gas in the cartridge 35 has been exhausted, the nut 44 is rotatedto release the cartridge, thereby permitting the exhausted cartridge 35to be replaced.

While .the invention has been described in connection with a specicembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodilication, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A gas powered revolver comprising a frame, a barrel projecting fromsaid frame, a chamber in said frame adapted to contain high pressuregas, a cylinderrotatably mounted in said frame, said cylinder having alplurality of chambers therein, one end of each of the last-namedchambers having an enlarged portion adapted to hold a projectile, aplurality of ducts extending radially of the first-named v chamber andcommunicating, respectively, with the other end of each of saidlast-named chambers, a valve normally closing oli said first-namedchamber from said radial ducts, saidvalve when opened permitting ow ofgas from said tirst-named chamber into that second-named chamber whichis aligned with said barrel, spring means constantly urging said valveto a closed position, a hammer pivotally mounted on said frame andoperable to be moved to a cocked position for causing saidhammer to opensaid valve means momentarilyfor propelling a projectile 4from saidaligned chamber through said barrel, and a magazine mounted on saidframe to be aligned with a chamber adjacent that chamber which isaligned with the barrel, and means in said magazine for urging aprojectile into the enlarged portion of said chamber which is alignedwith said magazine, and means connected to said hammer for rotating saidcylinder a predetermined distance to bring one of second-named chambersinto alignment with said barrel upon the cocking of said hammer.

2. A gas powered revolver, comprising a frame, a barrel projecting fromsaid frame, a cylinder having a plurality of chambers therein rotatably`mounted* in said frame, each of said chambers being positioned to besuccessively aligned with the barrel, normally closed valve means havinga reciprocable stem extending axially of the cylinder, a hammerpivotally mounted in said frame, spring means urging said hammer towardsaid valve means, said hammer having a recess and a shoulder spaced fromsaid recess formed therein, a trigger pivotally mounted on said frame,said trigger having a projection positioned to engage said recess tolock said hammer out of engagement with said valve means, saidprojection engaging said shoulder for releasably holding said hammer ina cocked position, said trigger releasing said hammer to open said valvemeans momentarily upon operation of said trigger when in engagement withsaid shoulder, and means connecting said hammer and said cylinder forrotating said cylinder a predetermined distance upon movement of saidhammer to a cocked position.

3. A gas-powered revolver comprising a frame, a tubular barrel securedto said frame, a cylinder mounted on said frame for rotation about anaxis parallel to but offset from the axis of said barrel, said cylinderhaving a plurality of projectile-receiving chambers therein which areequiangularly spaced about the axis of said cylinder, each of saidchambers being adapted to hold a projectile and each extending in adirection parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said cylinder having asmany ducts therein as there are chambers, each of said ducts extendingradially of the axis of said cylinder and each communicating at one endwith one of said projectile-receiving chambers, means for replaceablysecuring a gas-filled cartridge to said frame, said frame having aholding chamber therein to receive gas from said cartridge, said framehaving a port communicating with said holding chamber, a valvereciprocably mounted in said frame, spring means constantly urging saidvalve to closed position to close ol communication between said port andsaid holding chamber, means for rotating said cylinder step-by-step tobring the opposite end of each radial ductsuccessively into registrywith said port, a hammer movably mounted on said frame, amanually-operable trigger for releasablyv holding said hammer in cockedposition, and means for moving said hammer, when it is released, intoengagement with said valve to open said valve.

4. A gas-powered revolver comprising a frame, a tubular barrel mountedon said frame, a cylindrical valve block rigidly secured to said framebeneath the barrel, a cylinder mounted on said valve block for rotationabout an axis parallel to said barrel, said cylinder having a pluralityof projectile-receiving chambers therein which are equi-angularly spacedabout the axis of said cylinder, each of said chambers being adapted tohold a projectile and each extending in a direction parallel to the axisof said cylinder, said cylinder having as many ducts therein as thereare chambers, each of said ducts extending radially of the axis of saidcylinder and each communicating at one end with one of saidprojectile-receiving chambers, means for replaceably securing agas-filled cartridge to said frame in parallelism to said barrel and inaxial alignment with said cylindrical valve block, said valve blockhaving a holding chamber therein to receive gas from said cartridge,said valve block having a port communieating with said holding chamberand positioned to communicate successively with said ducts as saidcylinder is indexed rotatably step-by-step about its axis, a valvereciprocably mounted in said valve block for reciprocation axiallytherein, spring means constantly urging said valve to closed position toclose olf communication between said port and said holding chamber, ahammer movably mounted on said frame, a manually-operable trigger forreleasably holding said hammer in cocked position, means for moving saidhammer, when it is released, into engagement with said valve to opensaid valve, means for rotatably indexing said cylinder step-by-step tobring said radial ducts successively into registry with said port, andmeans operatively connected with said hammer for rotating said cylindera step each time said hammer is cocked.

5. A gas-powered revolver according to claim 4 wherein said hammer ispivotally mounted on said frame, and wherein said valve includes a valvestem which extends rearwardly axially of said valve block and in adirection substantially perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said hammerand which is disposed to be engaged by said hammer, when said hammer isreleased, to open said valve.

6. A gas-powered revolver according to claim 4 wherein each of saidprojectile receiving chambers has a portion of large diameter at itsforward end adapted to receive a projectile and has a smaller diameterportion at its rear end, which is connected to the associated radialduct.

References Cited in the le of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS452,882 Gitfard May 26, 1891 1,088,689 Eck Mar. 3, 1914 2,006,030 PriceJune 25, 1935 2,437,728 Drumheller Mar. 16, 1948 2,572,176 Mihalyi Oct.23, 1951 2,625,927 Rosenbloom Jan. 20, 1953 2,817,328 Gale Dec. 24, 1957

